2016 Election Project

Women and Girls Foundation 2016 GirlGov

The Women and Girls Foundation is still accepting applications for our 2016 GirlGov yearlong program and we need help spreading the word to young girls entering 9^th grade in the Fall of 2016. 

The Women and Girls Foundation’s Seventh Annual GirlGov program will kick off this summer with a trip to Harrisburg June 12^th through June 16^th.  GirlGov is designed to provide local girls with the opportunity to learn firsthand about government, civics, advocacy, philanthropy, community involvement, youth organizing, women’s history, and leadership.  Participants will shadow a state legislator for the day and learn about current public policy issues impacting women’s and girls’ lives in our region.  Transportation, overnight accommodations, and meals are included; there is NO FEE TO PARTICIPATE.  This year’s program also includes GirlGov meetings from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM on the second Thursday of every month.  Transportation to and from GirlGov meetings is the participant’s responsibility.

The program is open to all girls entering 9^th to 12^th grade in the Fall of 2016 who live in Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.  Past GirlGov participants are welcome to apply.

This year’s program promises to be our biggest and best yet! Participants will have opportunities to:

·  Shadow a state legislator for a day at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg

·  Learn about philanthropy and grant-making, and award $10,000 to local girl-led projects

·  Explore nonprofit and government career options

·  Discuss issues affecting women and girls with key decision makers

·  Meet and hear from accomplished women working in and with government

·  Become (more) involved in community civics

·  Most of all – have fun!

APPLY HERE:  https://wgfpa.wufoo.com/forms/mv4qah904z1w29/

The application deadline is this Friday, April 29^th. If you need a deadline extension, please contact blayre@wgfpa.org. 

Avonworth School District does not sponsor the activities of GirlGov. 

2015-2016 Back-to-School Supply List

Textbook Return

Science books are past due.

Math books are due tomorrow.

Reading & English books are due June 2. 

Civics textbooks will be collected on June 4.  Replacement cost for a lost textbook is: $70.47

Read about more end of the year information from the Grade 8 Blog.

Headphones for Civics Class

Students should bring headphones/earbuds to civics class on Friday.

Students learn how to honor the flag

On Friday, September 12, 2014, Avonworth Middle School was visited by local veterans from the South Hills Veterans Honor Guard. The 8th grade team would like to express our gratitude to Brian Allen, US Marine, Vietnam Veteran, Bruno Fontenasi, US Navy, Vietnam Veteran, Paul Kubas, Army Air Corps , WWII Veteran, Shannon Crowley, US Air Force, Ret. Lt. Col., Joseph Cevarr, US Air Force, Vietnam-era, and John Normile, US Army, Vietnam-era. The students have been learning about USA Symbols in civics class.

Students learn how to ceremonially raise the flag each morning. To the Colors is usually played and the flag is hoisted quickly into place.   

Veterans explain how the flag is to be retired each evening. Typically, Retreat is played on the bugle and all military personnel salute. The flag is lowered slowly with dignity and ceremony. 

The students were taught how to fold the flag so that it may be presented to the next of kin at a funeral service. 

Following a rifle volley, the students were taught how to salute the flag while a bugler played the taps. 

Special Event Tomorrow

Students and teachers in the 8th grade will participate in a flag retirement ceremony tomorrow morning with local veterans. This activity is part of the patriotic symbols unit in civics.

Honorable Matt Smith visits AMS Grade 8

8th grade students have been learning about the legislative branch in civics class. Senator Matt Smith visited Avonworth to discuss his role in the Pennsylvania legislature.

Senator Matt Smith presenting at Avonworth Middle School.

Courthouse Field Trips

Last week, 8^th grade students traveled to the Allegheny County Courthouse for a field trip.  In their Civics classes, students were introduced to the criminal and civil court systems prior to their visit.  Upon their arrival at the courthouse, students were greeted by a Deputy Attorney General of Allegheny County, David Spurgeon.  Mr. Spurgeon talked to students about his role in the judicial branch and warned them about the consequences of drug and alcohol related crimes.  Next, students visited real criminal court rooms to observe trials in action.  Some judges even invited the students to speak with them in their chambers about their job.  The day concluded with a brief tour of Pittsburgh neighborhoods including Oakland, the North Shore, the South Side, and the Strip District to help students prepare for their ongoing Pittsburgh research project.

 

Upcoming 8th Grade assignments

See the most up to date calendar on our homework webpage.

End of the third-nine weeks & AR due date

AMS Grade 8: Remember for tomorrow...

AMS Grade 8: Remember for tomorrow... Science: quiz - study guide online   Civics: 2nd Amendment Project & State of the Union extra credit

American Revolution Unit

During the month of December, eighth grade teachers collaborated on an interdisciplinary unit on the American Revolution.  In civics class, students researched the life of a real or fictional person from the Revolutionary era and the perspective that individual might have had in the debate over independence.  Students then played the role of this character in a “Revolutionary Town Hall” that allowed students to experience the difficult task of forming a consensus for or against declaring our independence. 

In reading class, students continued to practice their close reading skills by grappling with two complex texts, The Declaration of Independence and “A Loyalist’s Rebuttal to the Declaration” by Thomas Hutchinson.   In addition, eighth grade Book Clubs read a historical fiction text that took place during the Revolutionary Era.  Some students portrayed characters from these books during the Town Hall in civics.  In English, eighth graders wrote an argumentative paper that asked them to analyze whether the Founding Fathers should be considered patriots or traitors.  Using evidence from primary source documents, students were asked to build an argument that would depict their own interpretation of historical events.  Finally, Book Clubs generated a background information resource for their historical fiction novel.  Each student researched an American Revolution topic referenced in their Book Club novel.  Then, they collaboratively developed a multi-media presentation using web-based Prezi as a tool to teach their topics to their classmates.  

 

American Revolution Historical Fiction Book Clubs

Civics Test

There is a civics test on chapter 4 on Thursday.

Declaration of Independence

To supplement their study of the American Revolution in civics class, students are tackling the complex text of the Declaration of Independence in their reading class. Students will formally present their analysis of a passage from this important historical document next week.  Because scholars believe that Thomas Jefferson meant for the Declaration to be dramatically performed, students will reveal their understanding of the document by completing their own dramatic reading in our makeshift Independence Hall.